PERIANAL CONDYLOMATA ACUMINATA

Anal and perianal condylomata acuminata are warts caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). The annual incidence of genital w arts seems to have increased during the past few decades. Approximatel y 15 million consultations per year take place in the United States wi th this condition(1). Papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted disease , and is associated with several other venereal infections as web as w ith intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive squamous carcinoma. Only ce rtain genotypes of HPV are carcinogenic, and can be precisely identifi ed by in situ hybridisation techniques. There are many therapeutic alt ernatives, possibly reflecting the wide variability in treatment respo nse.